UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo (22-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC) is now one win away from a shot at the promotion's lightweight title.

MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) on Monday confirmed with UFC President Dana White that if Aldo is victorious in his August fight with Anthony Pettis (16-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC), he will move up to 155 pounds for a shot at the title in that division.

White's revelation is the latest development in a matchup that just 48 hours ago the UFC boss said the Brazilian champ wasn't interested in accepting. However, after a discussion with Aldo's manager, Andre Pederneiras, Aldo is now not only happy to accept the fight but also has an impressive reward waiting on him should he have his hand raised.

The Aldo vs. Pettis bout is expected to headline an as-yet-unannounced Aug. 3 event at a location yet to be determined.

It was Aldo, himself, that first revealed to Brazilian website Tatame.com the reason for accepting the matchup, essentially requesting that if Pettis could change divisions and be considered a No. 1 contender, then he should also receive similar treatment. He also told Brazilian media outlet SporTV.com that "heads will roll" when he steps into the cage against "Showtime."

Should he earn a crack at the lightweight title, Aldo would look to join Randy Couture and B.J. Penn as the only men to own UFC championship belts in two different weightclasses. Whether or not Aldo would have to relinquish his 145-pound belt has yet to be determined, but he has often discussed a desire to move up one division.

Current UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson (a fellow WEC veteran, along with both Aldo and Pettis) defends his belt against former Strikeforce champ Gilbert Melendez in the headlining bout of April's UFC on FOX 7 event.

For more on Aldo-Pettis at the UFC's August event, as well as the rest of the UFC's upcoming schedule, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.

flo

02-26-2013 06:38 AM

I'm glad they found a solution. I figured from Dana's reaction that Aldo would have to agree to the fight; that said, seems like the deal is sweet for him as well (should he win). I think it's a great match-up!

Earlier this week, MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) reported that, with a win over Anthony Pettis in August, UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo then would fight for the lightweight title.

As it turns out, such a scenario would result in a permanent move to 155 pounds.

"He said that after Aldo beats Pettis, [Aldo] wants to move up to 155 and fight there," UFC President Dana White said Tuesday on FUEL TV's "UFC Tonight." "I said that was fine, but one of the matchmakers called and said there was a misunderstanding, that he wants to go to 155, win the title, and go back to 145.

"That's not happening. If he moves to 155, he stays at 155, and he holds that belt. If Pettis wins the fight, Pettis is going to have to stay at 145 and defend that belt a couple of times."

The Aldo (22-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC) vs. Pettis (16-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC) bout, which required Pettis to drop a weight class, is expected to headline a currently unannounced Aug. 3 event. A venue hasn't been determined for the event.

Aldo looks to extend his 15 fight-win streak at the event. The Brazilian striker went 8-0 in the WEC, where he won the belt from Mike Brown and defended it twice. Since his move to the UFC, he's made successful title defenses over Mark Hominick, Kenny Florian, Chad Mendes and Frankie Edgar.

Should he earn a shot at the lightweight title, Aldo would look to join Randy Couture and B.J. Penn as the only men to own UFC titles in two weight classes.

He'd face either current lightweight champion Benson Henderson or final Strikeforce titleholder Gilbert Melendez, who meet in April at UFC on FOX 7.